Three arrested in attempted burglary: Trio accused in first try of two that night at same convenience store

By Liz Markhlevskaya

lmark@fosters.com

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Click image to enlarge

Tammy Ewing

FARMINGTON — Police arrested three people on Monday in connection to the first of two attempted burglaries of the Farmington Lil General Store.

The two attempted burglaries occurred within four hours of each other, in the overnight hours between March 10 and March 11, police say. In both instances, the suspects were unable to gain entry into the store.

Towle was also charged with criminal mischief, for allegedly causing damage to the store.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on Sunday, police responded to the store, located at 438 Route 11, for an alarm activation. Arriving officers found a broken window and heard movement in the woods nearby.

Police patrolman Sean Leach then stopped a vehicle that was leaving the area and detained three people, while Rochester Police Officer Keith McKenzie conducted a K9 track that lead to where the vehicle was parked. Additionally, two of the detained suspects matched the description of the alleged perpetrators on the store’s video surveillance system, according to police.

Click image to enlarge

Dustin
Rice

The three suspects are currently out on bail, with arraignment scheduled for April 16, at Rochester Circuit Court.

The Police Department continues to investigate a separate attempted burglary of the same store by different suspects just four hours later. The vehicle used in that crime was stolen in Alton and found on fire in Rochester early Monday morning, according to police.

At approximately 2 a.m. on Monday, officers responded back to Farmington Lil General Store for another alarm activation. An employee at a nearby business also saw a truck leaving the store at a high rate of speed when the alarm sounded. Investigating officers determined that suspects had again attempted to enter the store by breaking a window.

Shortly afterward, Rochester Police Department discovered a 2005 Ford Ranger that was believed to be involved in the attempted burglary. An investigation determined the truck, which was engulfed in flames when officials arrived to the scene, was the vehicle involved in the burglary.

Click image to enlarge

Ryan
Towle

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Police Sgt. Scott Ferguson at the Farmington Police Department at 755-2731 x110.